I had been so panicked and disoriented that I didn’t realize the arms holding me were so familiar. But then, the deep voice came—
"Hiss, let go, it's me." The recognition hit me all at once.
It was James.
The warmth of his body, the soothing pine scent that lingered in the air, finally grounded me. I’d been so tense, too focused on the chaos, that I hadn't even noticed how close he was.
My body sagged into his arms, the tension leaving me as I realized who it was. But then my mind caught up with the situation, and I stiffened again. My heart hammered in my chest, and I bit my lip, still trying to process everything that had just happened. I had bitten him, and the reality of it hit me as I saw the blood.
"Why is there so much blood?" I blurted, my voice laced with surprise and guilt.
I had barely even bitten him that hard, had I? But there it was, blood dripping down his hand, staining it.
James shook off his hand, c
I felt my pace slow down as I followed Aunt Tian through the hospital. My heart was racing, and the closer we got to the obstetrics and gynaecology department, the more my nerves grew. I couldn’t understand why we were headed here. Xander was in the children's ward—was something wrong with him? Or was it Grandma?I hesitated, unsure of what was happening. The air felt thick with tension, and I stood frozen, anxiety tightening my chest.Aunt Tian must have sensed my hesitation because she turned around and came back to pull me forward."Madam, please move quickly. Don't let the old lady and the doctors wait anxiously."But I couldn’t move."Aunt Tian, what's going on?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Isn't Xander in the children's ward? Or is the old lady not feeling well? Why are we going to the obstetrics and gynaecology department?"She finally relented, understanding my confusion, and began to explain."It’s n
I looked down at Susan Wenger, my body stiff with disbelief. And then, I laughed.Not because anything was funny—but because I finally realized just how foolish I had been.I had actually worried that Madam Ferguson would really force Susan to have an abortion. I had thought that maybe Susan would finally admit the truth to save herself. But no—she was still playing her games, still pretending to be the victim.And I? I was the biggest fool of them all.Of course, Susan had already informed James. Of course, she had been stalling, waiting for him to come and rescue her. I had been so focused on the old lady’s anger, on the chaos unfolding before me, that I hadn’t even seen it.Susan Wenger was always one step ahead, always ready with her next move."Brother James, please save me, save the baby. I won't fight with my sister for anything. Why do you have to get rid of my baby? What did he do wrong? It hurts so much..."
The old lady was caught off guard by what had happened and was exhausted. Looking at Mr. Ferguson and Hellen Ferguson, who were obviously biased towards each other, the old lady felt frustrated and helpless.There were outsiders present who followed suit to persuade the old lady, and she had no choice but to do anything, and her anger gradually subsided."James, why don't you take Susan to the ward and find a doctor to see her right away, before anything really happens to her,"Hellen Ferguson urged, especially when she saw that Susan Wenger was so weak that she seemed unable to open her eyes, she became worried and anxious. After all, the baby in Susan Wenger's belly is her hope to save her youngest son.Mr Ferguson also said in a deep voice:"Stop embarrassing yourself here, get her out of here quickly."Just as James Ferguson was about to take a step, Mrs. Ferguson suddenly said,"Wait!"Everyone looked at the old lady, but she turned around and looked at me, I was pushed to the ed
ZeldaThe air in the hospital corridor felt heavy and thick with unspoken words and lingering emotions. I adjusted my bag on my shoulder, preparing to leave with Grandma when James Ferguson spoke."I'll come with you to send Grandma back."I frowned, caught off guard by his sudden offer. His voice held an unfamiliar tone—was it sincerity? Guilt? I couldn’t tell.Instead, I folded my arms and met his gaze with a blank expression."You should stay here and take care of Miss Susan," I replied coolly.James sneered. "You are so generous."I rolled my eyes, unwilling to humour whatever twisted logic he was playing at. I turned away, dismissing him, but Grandma wasn’t one to hold back."Get lost! Can't you see that Zelda doesn't like you?!" she snapped.James, unfazed, simply slid one hand into his pocket and reached out with the other to hold the elevator door open for us."Then it's okay for Grandma to see me."Grandma let out a laugh, sharp and full of mockery."Which eye of yours saw th
ZeldaI stood just outside the door, the delicate tray of calming tea in my hands, but my attention was completely consumed by the heated exchange inside. I heard James's voice—powerful, confident, and yet somehow it struck a chord deep within me. His words rang in my ears.“I can’t let her marry any man other than me.”I froze. My breath caught in my throat, and my hand tightened on the tray. It was ridiculous how much those words made my heart race. I should’ve been used to his possessiveness by now, but hearing him say it out loud, so forcefully—it made me wonder.Does he still care?The thought flitted through my mind before I could push it away. I bit my lip, my mind racing as I tried to rationalize it. It wasn’t love—it couldn’t be. It was just his need for control, his arrogance, his overwhelming desire to keep things his way. Even if I was no longer his wife, James Ferguson was the same possessive man he had always been. His words meant nothing, absolutely nothing more than th
The throbbing in my hand was a dull reminder of James’ grip. I yanked it away, my fury bubbling to the surface. I was ready to unleash a torrent of words, maybe even a kick—anything to make him feel the same frustration he’d caused me.But then, James rolled over, got off me, and sat up. He started to remove his shirt, the sunlight catching the contours of his back.It was… distracting.The way his spine moved, the play of muscles beneath his skin. For a moment, I almost forgot my anger.Almost.My foot was already halfway up, aimed squarely at his backside when he spoke.His voice, low and husky, sent a shiver down my spine.“If you dare to kick me again, I'll make you cry under me.”The threat hung in the air, thick with something… dangerous.My foot dropped back to the floor like a stone.I was scared. Not just physically, but… something else.He just sat there, though, breathing deeply. Didn’t do anything. My heart finally started to slow down.And I couldn't help but stare at his
James"I said, don’t pay attention to it," I snapped, my patience wearing thin.Cheng was worrying too much. Overestimating the situation. Overestimating her."Do you really think there’s anyone in this city who dares to hurt me? Or do you think I can’t even deal with a weak, middle-aged woman who’s practically powerless? Do I look like I need bodyguards as if I’m facing some great enemy?"Silence.Cheng stared at me for a moment, then finally backed off. He knew better than to argue. He knew what I was capable of. Muay Thai, karate, firearms, grappling—I was trained, and experienced. I didn’t need protection.He was being ridiculous.We arrived at the hospital, and I wasted no time heading straight for Susan Wenger’s room.She lay there on the hospital bed, wrapped in a thin gown, a bandage around her forehead. Pale. Haggard. The same woman who had once been so full of herself, so confident.Now?She looked pathetic.Her eyes, red and swollen, stared blankly at the ceiling, lifeless.
ChengI was really starting to worry about him. As his assistant, I felt like I had a pretty good read on the situation.The CEO clearly cared about his wife, about this marriage. I’d seen it myself. Back when Zelda was still working in the office, I’d walked in on him a few times while delivering documents. He’d be staring at her, lost in his own little world.Sometimes he wouldn’t even notice me come in. And… well, he’d have this… soft smile on his face. A real smile. Not the usual, carefully constructed one.It was… love. I was sure of it. I was so happy for them back then, for the CEO and his secretly married wife. I never imagined they’d end up like this.I’d thought it was just a lovers’ quarrel. But then they signed up for their divorce. And he’d been… different ever since. Quiet. Short-tempered. There was a bitterness in his voice, even when he was just giving instructions.It was all because his wife was leaving. He was too proud to admit it, of course. But I knew. He needed
ZeldaAs the door shut, James exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. His body was tense, his fists clenched at his sides.James stood motionless, staring at the door, his jaw clenched so tightly that I thought he might break.Mr Ferguson was the first to speak, his voice firm but not unkind.“James, I know you’re angry, but she’s still your mother.”James let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Still my mother?” His voice wavered. “What kind of mother does this to her child? What kind of mother lets him suffer for years and then—then when the truth comes out, she refuses to even acknowledge it?”His father sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “She’s scared, James. Scared of losing everything she’s built, scared of what the truth means.”James turned on him, pained.“And what about me? Does she care how scared I was? How much I lost? How I spent years believing I was the mistake, that everything that went wrong was somehow my fault?”Helen’s voice trembled from the doorw
ZeldaI sit on the edge of the bed, staring at the divorce papers I had once been so ready to sign. My hands rest over my stomach, where our child—my child—grows.I told myself I wouldn't cry over James Ferguson again. But here I am, my heart still aching in ways I wish it wouldn't.He had always been my saviour. When I was just a scared thirteen-year-old girl, lost and alone, James had taken me in. I admired him, idolized him. But then admiration turned into something else. Love. The kind that consumed me, that I could never shake off, no matter how hard I tried.But James had never seen me that way.First, it was Susan Wenger... I watched as he gave everything to Susan, how he smiled at her the way I had always wished he would look at me. And when Susan was gone, I thought—maybe—just maybe, James would see me.But then came Luoxing.And that had been the final proof I needed to know the truth. I was never going to be James's first choice.That was why I decided to leave. I refused t
JamesThe Bai estate was as grand as ever, standing as a symbol of power, wealth, and the history that bound our families together.Or so I thought.I stepped inside without hesitation. No one stopped me. They never would. For years, I had been welcomed here like a son.I had thought I was.But tonight, the weight of betrayal clung to me like a second skin, suffocating, inescapable and true.As I entered the main hall, I found them all gathered—Mr. Bai, Mrs. Bai, and their daughter, Bai Luoxing.The moment they saw me, Luoxing was the first to react. She stood up, her eyes filled with something between relief and hesitation."James!"I lifted a hand to my head, stopping her in her tracks.She hesitated, then slowly sat back down, casting a quick glance toward her mother.Mrs Bai, ever composed, sat calmly at the head of the table, an air of relaxed control around her. She didn’t look surprised to see me.She probably didn’t know that I knew everything.Mr. Bai, on the other hand, was
JamesA slow, numbing realization crept over me, drowning out everything else.The Bai family hadn’t just manipulated me.They had shaped my entire life."They couldn’t just bring Luoxing back," Dom continued, his voice low. "Not when the whole world was looking for her. Not when they hadn't gotten anything from their attempt. So they kept her hidden, cared for her, made sure no one found her."I barely heard him. My mind was already racing ahead, connecting pieces I had never thought to question before."But the Ferguson family—" My voice caught. "We never stopped searching for her.""And that’s exactly what they wanted."I snapped my gaze to him."Think about it, James." Dom leaned forward, the dim light casting sharp shadows on his face."Your parents. Your grandmother. You. You were all drowning in guilt, haunted by the loss of a little girl you thought you failed to protect. You clung to Madame Bai and saw her as a second mother because she was grieving too. She played her role p
JamesThe air in the car was filled with tension, Zelda's rigid posture and clenched phone screaming her silent fury at me. I deserved it—every bit of her anger, every cold shoulder. But damn if it didn't carve a hollow ache in my chest.Then my phone buzzed, slicing through the suffocating quiet.I answered, and within seconds, the tension in my shoulders eased."We found Dom."The words sent a rush of grim satisfaction through me. Finally. After all the hunting, all the dead ends—we had him.My grip tightened on the phone. "Alive?""Barely. He's talking."Good.I glanced at Zelda, still stubbornly turned away from me, her reflection faint in the window. This changed everything. With Dom's testimony, the Bai family's carefully constructed lies would crumble.But first—"Keep him secure. I'll be there soon."Hanging up, I studied Zelda's profile. She thought this was about the divorce. About me stalling.She had no idea the storm that was coming.And for once, I'd be the one to shield
JamesMadam Bai’s fingers combed through Bai Luoxing’s hair with practised tenderness, her voice saccharine."Don’t cry. Mom knows your heart is too soft—you would have stopped me if you knew."Then she lifted her chin, her blind eyes fixed in my direction with eerie precision."James, I only helped your wife leave because she wanted to. I didn’t want you two to become bitter enemies. You may not understand my intentions, but the truth is, this all started with her desire to run. Luoxing is innocent."Innocent.The word tasted like ash."So sending men to hunt her down—was that also a favour?" My voice was lethally quiet.Madam Bai’s wrinkled face twisted in feigned confusion."Hunt her? James, I only sent people to find her after she disappeared! For her safety! And my nephew—where is Dom? Did you see him?"Zelda stiffened beside me. I could almost hear the furious drum of her heartbeat.I stared at the woman who had once been like a second mother to me.Even now, faced with the trut
JamesMy lashes lowered, hiding the smug satisfaction in my gaze as I buried my face against her again. Good. She didn’t push me away this time.Then— Thump.Something struck the side of my face.I froze.Before I could process it, another hit—this time square on the bridge of my nose. Not painful, but sharp, like a tiny jolt of electricity.My head snapped up, eyes wide."Was that… Littleton?"Zelda’s lips curled, amusement flickering in her gaze before she pressed them flat again."Littleton’s here to teach you some manners," she said dryly.Of course, it was Littleton.Even in the womb, my kid couldn’t stand watching their shameless father grovelling like this and decided to intervene.A stunned laugh caught in my throat.I stared at the slight swell of her belly, then slowly raised my hand, pressing my fingers where I’d been kicked. The impact had been soft, muted by layers of flesh and fluid, but it sent a current straight through my chest.My heart hammered—not from fever, but s
JamesThe pain in my chest was sharp, unrelenting, as I watched her smile—so effortless, so free. As if I meant nothing.If it were up to me, I’d never let her go.Especially not now, with those men hovering around her like vultures, waiting for their chance. But I couldn’t do anything. Not anymore.I didn’t dare to force her, didn’t dare to manipulate things behind her back like I used to. One wrong move, and she’d slip even further from my grasp.And then there was Dom. Until he was dealt with, she wasn’t safe here."Don’t worry," I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "I’ll fulfil your wish this time. Consider it… compensation for the wedding."That damned wedding. My fault. All of it.Maybe ending this marriage was the only way to truly start over. She looked at me then, her eyes searching mine, and for the first time, she saw it—my resolve. No tricks, no games. This was real.Her lashes fluttered, her grip on my collar loosening as she whispered,"So after we land…
ZeldaOf course I couldn't bear it.I never wanted to compete with Bai Luoxing for anything. She was the one who forced her way into my marriage. Even then, I retreated—step by step, until I'd put an ocean between us.Yet the Bai family still wouldn't let me go. They wanted me dead. How vicious could they be?But Leiy hadn't said much earlier. Even I was only guessing. Did James... already know it was them?My eyes widened in shock. "You knew? Bai Luoxing helped me leave the country, and the Bai family has been hunting me since I landed—"His face darkened at the mention of my escape. "How else do you think I found you?"I pressed my lips together, then let out a cold laugh."Well, color me surprised. I thought even if I accused the Bai family, you'd assume I was just smearing their name out of spite."The pain that flashed across his face was sharp enough to almost make me regret my words. Almost.His chest heaved, and before I could react, his hand shot out, gripping the back of my